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Olaf, Shen or Gangplank for a Top/Jungle/Support main?

Onwodori·10/16/2014, 9:46:48 PM·1 votes·3,700 views

I think I have the right forum this time ;-P Thanks Riot.

Anyways. Presently, I am trying to decide on which champion to buy between primarily Gangplank, Shen and Olaf. I am in need of a top, jungle and support capable champ to begin main-ing, and these are three strong candidates. Somewhat breaking the meta, I have put some good thought into this selection, each one possessing sustain, a good poke/some sort of CC (Some better than others, admittedly) and can dish out damage while still building tanky, as is needed for those positions most of the time.

So, from experienced players, how do these three function in those roles? We all know that all three work fine top lane, Shen and Olaf are fine in the jungle and GP is not such a strange support, but they all have a role that's a bit iffy. Who is best overall in your mind?

Thanks very much and happy playing,

-MF

EDIT - While he's shown next to no love, Urgot, too, fulfills these requirements, sans sustain. Instead, he gets a shield and passive damage reduction.

EDIT EDIT - I am actually much more interested in jungling and support -- top lane farming is too stressful for me. Does that change things? I hear that Karthus/Shaco Jungle is actually pretty strong, and you can poke like no other with Karthus, and Shaco gets free wards and good zoning.

7 Comments

Social Mobility10/16/2014, 10:29:24 PM3 votes

Gangplank is probably your best bet. He is the only one of those you mentioned that can be played support efficiently and remain somewhat useful when behind, Shen would be up next for supportive qualities but he really doesn't have any lane dominance tools and requires too much gold for tankiness, he can't build a 1 item wonder like gangplank can with an iceborn gauntlet.

On an optimal level I think Olaf is a better jungler/top laner than GP, at least from early to mid game, but he is incredibly hard to play and sometimes just not worth playing. GP in contrast is very easy, and his top lane can be versatile in how you deal with different kinds of lane match ups. GP can deal with ranged top laners better than Olaf, with Olaf being a better choice than GP against the incredibly strong fighter top laners like udyr/irelia/jax, but for the most part GP can still beat these lanes if played correctly, he just won't have as safe of a mid game against them.

Jungle wise again Olaf is probably better in the sense that he has much more early game power that stays consistent, and has better objective control. Faster clear speed also matters a lot, however GP's jungle is a lot easier if you go feral flare and avarice blade and pick up a lot of early crit items. I don't like tankplank from the jungle because of how farming works while jungling, and the fact that damage will be your best bet in regaining mid game advantages since you will be farming flare. Late game critplank dominates much harder than olaf can, provided tankiness isn't OP in a given meta.

Shen I just wouldn't consider because of how crappy his jungling speed is, it's really not worth playing. You might as well play warwick if you want shen, since while both do have slow clear speed, warwick just has a better late game.

As far as picking what to main, don't be tricked into thinking that just because you will be maining the champ that the difficulty factor will necessarily disappear. Hard champs are hard even for the best of players, and a lot of what makes a main something you will continue to play is the comfort level behind the champ, which a hard champ will not really provide.

iRetribution10/16/2014, 11:56:29 PM2 votes

Olaf laning is really strong, his mid is all about pushing shit, and his late is great for closing out teamfights

CrispCrustacean10/17/2014, 1:19:45 AM1 votes

Well it depends on your playstyle, since you said that you are a top/support main-Shen would be your best bet because he focuses on saving carries and peeling, also he is tankier than most other champions (and maybe even a nexus)

Note*:His base damages are high and his passive is scaled off his own max HP, but if you try to build AP you wont get anywhere except a bigger shield on w and r so it not worth biulding damage, also you need alot of map awareness to master his ult(But overall he is easy to learn)

SparrowPriest11/9/2014, 8:01:49 PM1 votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbr8Rcktsu4 Main Shen jungle.

Imperial Japan3/25/2015, 3:58:29 PM1 votes

I'd say main Shen. He has the qualities for a good top, jg, and support and is very tanky while dealing damage with sunfire/cinderhulk and thorn mail. Maybe gromp smite.